Get in touch

Co2 emissions

London has seen rapid change over the past 25 years, reversing decades of decline through a combination of globalisation and adopting ambitious strategies to help unlock growth, embrace diversity and nurture talent. The devolution of powers to London through the creation of the Mayor for London and the London Assembly has been a catalyst in transforming the city. London’s Mayors have been at the centre of this change, using its relatively limited powers to showcase what can be done.

Currently EVs account for around 0.2% of vehicles on UK roads , but their use is set to grow to around 1.6 million vehicles or 5% of licensed vehicles by 2020 . This is motivated by the fact that buying them is promoted through a favourable vehicle tax regime and government grants and planners are promoting the installation of infrastructure to support EVs in city centres. In response to the need to reduce carbon emission from transport, since 2001 the UK government has set vehicle tax rates based on CO2 emissions.

Across Europe there is an increasing focus on greener cities. By 2025, Copenhagen aims to be the first capital city in the world to become carbon neutral. Copenhageners will make 75% of trips by bicycle, on foot or by public transport. In the UK, central and local government are raising green transport higher on the agenda, looking for long term cost savings as well as improving emissions. Green transport can be viewed as a risky investment with uncertainty of demand and upfront infrastructure costs.

Steer Davies Gleave is delighted that Westminster City Council (WCC) has been successful in its application for Low Emission Neighbourhood funding for Marylebone. Steer Davies Gleave worked with officers, the local neighbourhood and community groups, business improvements districts and land owners to develop the bid.

Reducing CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases to tackle climate change is now an explicit goal of the UK Government’s transport policy. A key challenge facing local authorities is taking account of the carbon impacts of transport. There is also a legal requirement for councils to take account of environmental guidance and policies when formulating Local Transport Plans (LTPs), particularly in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation.